Tim Draper

Tim Draper stands as a highly influential and pioneering figure in the venture capital landscape, best known as the Founding Partner of Draper Associates. With a career spanning decades, Draper has consistently championed disruptive technologies and bold entrepreneurial visions, often making early-stage bets that have reshaped industries. His investment philosophy is deeply rooted in fostering innovation, supporting founders who challenge conventional thinking, and promoting global entrepreneurship, notably through his Draper Venture Network and various Draper University initiatives.

Draper Associates primarily focuses on seed and early-stage investments, targeting companies poised to revolutionize sectors such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, fintech, and health technology. Draper's foresight is evidenced by his early investments in now-iconic companies like Hotmail, Baidu, Tesla, Skype, and Coinbase, many of which were made through his earlier firm, Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ), or his personal capacity before focusing solely on Draper Associates. His firm seeks out ventures with strong leadership and scalable business models that can achieve significant market penetration.

For companies seeking initial capital, Draper Associates typically writes first checks ranging from $250,000 for very early-stage seed rounds up to $5,000,000 for leading a robust Series A. This flexible approach allows the firm to engage with promising startups across various early development phases. Over its history, Draper Associates, along with Tim Draper's broader investment activities, has reportedly made over 200 investments, underscoring a prolific and wide-ranging commitment to the startup ecosystem. Draper remains a vocal advocate for technological advancement and a significant force in identifying and nurturing the next generation of global innovators.